Drum head tightener



March 14, 1933. s RY 1,901,765

- DRUM HEAD TIGHTENER Filed May 16, 1952 287'?" INVEN-TOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 14, 1933 OFFICE H. NEW BERRY, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA DRUM HEAD TIGHTENER Application med May 16, 1932. Serial No. 611,660.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more especially to percussion drums, base drums, tympani, banj os, ukuleles and mandolins using membrane heads or. any

7 6 musical instrument using stretched'mem- '2 ring to operate against the flesh hoop and stretch the drum head.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide means for retaining the lower tightening hoop or ring from rotating, thereby preventing any undue wear on the flesh engaged with the flesh hoop.

A further purpose is to provide means to hold the movable, or rotating tooth hoop or ring set after being adjusted and the drum head tightened.

Since the rotating toothed tightening ring or hoop is movable under guides of uniform height, thereis no downward movement of such rotating toothed tightening ring or hoop, therefore the upper edge of such toothed ring or hoop remains: in a uniform plane relative to the surface of; the drum head, thereby avoiding any possibility of the drummers sticks coming in contact with the upper edge of the rotating toothed tightening ring or hoo 7 It is to be un erstood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative, and that while still keeping within the scope'of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances. 7

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a view of a drum, showing the improved tightener as applied.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1 through one end of the drum.

Referring to the drawing, 1 identifies the body of the drum, which may be constructed of any suitable material, either wood or metal, and 2 is the flesh hoop or ring. Engaged over the body of the drum at each end thereof is the usual drum head or flesh 3, which is engaged around the flesh hoop 2 as shown.

Secured at 4: to the body of the drum are retainers 5 having overlying guides 6. Engagled under the guides 6 are drum head tig tening rings or hoops 7 and 8, the former engaging under the guides, the latter engaging against the flesh of the flesh hoop 2. The adjacent edges of the tightening rings or hoops 7 and 8 are toothed at 9, and these teeth include cam edges 10, the pitch of which can be any degree. the rotation of the tightening ring or hoop 7 the cam edges 10 of the two tightening rings or hoops cooperating will cause the tightening ring or hoop 8 to move down against the flesh hoop and thereby drawing the drum head or flesh taut or tight. The two tightening rings or hoops 7 and 8. have diametrically opposite a printers quoin con nection identified at 11. Each connection comprises the racks 12'and 13 and pinion 14. Each pinion 1.4: has annular projecting flanges 15 terminating beyond the tooth of the pinion in order to overlap the teeth 12 and 13, thereby acting as guides to retain the pinions inposition. Each pinion has an Obviously by axial pintle or extension. a which is reotangular in crosssection, in order to be engaged in an opening of a key 16. There are two keys, and one may be engaged with each of the pintles or axial extensions of the pinions, so that the two pinions can be operated simultaneously, and thereby move the tightening tooth ring or hoop 7 and in rotating the hoop the other tightening ring or hoop 8 will apply pressure on the flesh hoop and thereby tighten the drum head.

A certain retainer 56; has a slot 17 to receive a pin 18, which prevents the tighten ing ring or hoop 8 from rotating and since the ring or hoop 8 is prevented from rotation undue wear upon'that portion of the drum. head which engages about the flesh hoop is prevented.

Another of the retainers 5. is provided with a set screw 18a, which may be tightened against the rotating tightening ring or hoop 7 so"'as to prevent retrograde movement after the ring or hoop 7 has been set and the drum head tightened.

Both ends of the drum are provided with similar drum head tightening means.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. In a drum head tightener, the combina- 33 tion with a drum body, of a drum head stretched over the drum body, a flesh hoop engaged with the drum body and about said flesh hoop and with which the drum head is engaged, a plurality of ti-ghtener hoop retainers mounted on the body circumferentially thereof at spaced intervals, said retainers having guides, drum head tightening rings or hoops engaged between the guides and the flesh hoop, the adjacent edges of said tightening rings or hoops being toothed, said teeth including substantially elongated camming' edges, and a printers quoin connection between certain diametrically opposite camming edges of the teeth of the tightening rings or hoops, and means for adjusting said quoin connections for rotating one of the tightening rings or hoops.

2. In a drum head tightener, the combination with a drum body, of a drum hea'd stretched over the drum body, a flesh hoop engaged with the drum body and about said flesh hoop the drum head is engaged, a plurality of tightener hoop retainers mounted on the body circumferentially thereof at spaced intervals, said retainers having guides, drum head tightening rings or hoops engaged between the guides and the flesh hoop, the adjacent edges of said tightening rings or hoops being toothed, said teeth including substantially elongated camming edges, and a printersquoin connection between certain diametrically opposite camming edges of the teeth of the tightening rings or hoops, and means for adjusting said quoin connections for rotating one of the tightening rings or hoops, and means for retaining. one of said tightening rings or hoops against rotation.

3. In a drum head tightener, the combination with a drum body, of a drum head stretched over the drum body, a flesh hoop engaged with the'drum body and about said flesh hoop the drum head is engaged, a plurality of tightener hoop retainers mounted on the'body circumferentially thereof at spaced intervals, said retainers having guides, drum head tighteningring's or hoops engaged betweentheguides and the flesh hoop, the adjacent edges of said tightening rings or hoops being,toothed,,said teeth including substantially elongated camming edges, anda printers quoin connection between certain diametrically opposite cam- Ining edges of the teeth of the tightening rings or hoops, and means for adjusting said quoin connections for rotating one of. the tightening rings or hoops, and means for preventing retrograde rotation of one of the tighteningrings or hoops after it has been adjusted and set and the drum head tightened. I

4. In a drum head tightener, the combi nation with a drum body, of a drum head stretched over the drum body, a flesh hoop engaged with the'drum body andabout said flesh hoop the drum head is engaged, a plurality of tightener hoop retainers mounted on the body circumferentially thereof at spaced intervals, said retainers having guides, drum head tightening rings or hoops engaged between the guides and the flesh hoop, the adjacent edges of said tightening rings or hoops being toothed, said teethincluding substantially elongated camming edges, and-a printers quoin connection between certain diametrically opposite cam.

ming edges of the teeth of the tightening rings or hoops, and means for adjusting said quoin connections for rotating one ofthe tightening rings orlhoops, and means for retaining one of said tightening rings or hoops against rotation,.and means for preventing retrograde rotation of one of the tightening rings or hoops after it has been I adjusted and set and the drum head tightened.

5. In a drum head tightener, the combinatween certain diametrically opposite camming edges of the teeth of the tightenin rings or hoops, and means for adjusting sai quoin connections for rotating one of the tightening rings or hoops, said quoin connection comprising rack teeth including a pinion therebetween, with the means for adjusting the quoin connection carried by the pinion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SIDNEY H. NEWBERRY. 

